Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Legendary Jazz Drummer Alvin Queen… From his home base in Switzerland, he opened up about this 2019 CD Op - a Tribute to Oscar Peterson and talked about his experiences with the genius jazz pianist .. So, he was born in the Bronx, raised in Mt. Vernon and as a kid .. he loved playing ball .. and one of those kids on the infamous Fourth Street playground was Academy Award winner Denzel Washington – in fact, his father, Elder D. Washington Sr., who was pastor of the First Church of God In Christ and was big in Alvin’s life .. He was introduced to jazz at an early age and was groomed as a prodigy on the kit and had a lot of experience growing up .. In 1963 he had “big night” in his early jazz experience when John Coltrane was performing at Birdland, and Alvin happened to be on hand for the recording of the now-famous “Live At Birdland” album, featuring the tune Afro Blue. Elvin Jones sat Alvin at the front table – “under the drums” – next to Elvin’s wife. And he got to get behind the drums to perform .. he talked about this and so much more ..